4. Life's Lesson. By MRS. CAROLINE CRANE MARSH, of Burlington, Vt

When barks, that left the self-same port,

But long by warring winds disparted,
Meet, for a respite passing short,

In the fair haven whence they started;
The precious moments should they waste
Recounting perils past ?-or rather,
For the new voyage, with prudent haste,
Refit each sail, fresh sea-stores gather?
What, though their snowy canvas, worn
Erst proudly as a bridal veil,

By rain and tempest stained and torn,
Scarce serve to catch the favoring gale;
Though faded flag and pennon show
So pale that hardly comrades know
Each other! They must brave the deep
Again, and may not pause to weep
O'er chance or change. Yea, it may be,
Within each wave-washed vessel lies,
Snatched from the wild, resisting sea,
Worth an this loss, a noble prize,-
Corals and pearls, and shining amber,
Treasures reserved for those who tread
The floor of ocean's secret chamber,
And feel the billows o'er their head'

So are we met, and so would choose
New strength for toils renewed to borrow;
Nor the fast flying moments lose
In telling weakening tales of sorrow.
If we have struggled, suffered, lost—
Who wins the prize without the pains?
For all that youth and health can boast,
Would we resign our hard-earned gains? ·
Oh, surely, no! Advancing years
May bring their trials and their tears;
Youth bath one load more grievous far

Than all life's later burdens are

The care for self-self, still the same

Unconscious spring of every aim!

But we have learned from Time's stern teaching,

How small a drop in life's wide sea,

How light a leaf upon the tree

Of our humanity broad-reaching,

One little self must ever be!

Learned that for self much thought is vain,

Nor take such burden up again;

We would serve God and man as best

We may, not careful for the rest.

Nor lack we great examples still

To fire our hearts with quenchless zeal.

They tell us 'tis an age of crime;

That ruled and rulers spurn the laws;
That justice leaves her seat sublime,
Nor longer pleads the righteous cause;
That men bow down to Mammon. True.
But 'tis an age of heroes, too!

Heroes and martyrs, tried and bold

As ever saved the world of old!

Behold them force a pathless way

Through burning continents, unheeding
Of life or death, if so they may

Knowledge and truth abroad be spreading!

Behold them in the icy seas,

Eternal frost and famine scorning,

Through awful nights without a morning,
A hapless brother to release!

Behold the new crusading bands

That toward the gates of morning fly,

To rescue misbelieving lands,

Or in the glorious conflict die!

Not now with flashing spear and shield,

And helmet plumed, and breast-plate steeled,

They seek the bloody battle field.

With peace their weary feet are shod,
Their only sword the Word of God;
And with a love and zeal as strong
As ever nerved a martyr-throng,
They bear the gospel's healing light
To nations wrapped in hopeless night!

Even woman, now more wisely taught,
Hath waked from long lethargic slumber,
And, with her noblest grace, hath wrought
What well with heroes' deeds may number

We see her leave her native shores,
And, lengthening leagues of ocean past,
Stand calm where war his thunder pours,
And pestilence doth ride the blast.

What doth a gentle lady there,

Where heaps of tombless dead are lying-
Where groans and curses fill the air?
She tends the wounded, soothes the dying,
And lo! at her blest presence cease
The groan and curse, and all is peace!

To yon lone bark now turn thine eye,
That neareth fast the dreaded cape,
While gathering darkness fills the sky,
And clouds the stormy headland drape.
Confusion reigneth on her deck,
All will command, and none obey!
Where is the voice misrule to check?
Where doth her trusted captain stay?
With fever-frenzy in his eye,

Life clenched with death in fearful strife,
He on his narrow couch doth lie,

And by him sits his girl-like wife.
From ceaseless watchings pale and weak,

On those unconscious features, still
Are fixed her tearful looks that speak

Of grief and love ineffable.

She hears the tumult o'er her head!
Another light is in her eyes;

A few short words of prayer are said,
And to the reeling deck she flies.
At her command the strife is staid;
Wisely she points the vessel's course;
Lo! the shamed helmsman hath obeyed
The voice of that same gentle nurse!
Thus she, through many a dreary day,
And many a night of dark despair,
Doth show the doubtful ship her way,
And for a dying husband care.
Nor doth that noble spirit quail
Till safe in port she furls the sail.
Of woman's rights no question here!
She rules by right divine, as clear

As England's queen, whose iron sway
"First"-so sings Spenser's lofty lay-
"Taught man a woman to obey."

But, hark! what strain comes o'er the sea,
Fraught with divinest melody!
From woman's burning lips ne'er brake,
Since Grecian Sappho's tuneful youth,
Such songs as, winged with flaming truth,
Daughter of England! thou dost wake!
Higher and yet higher swell thy lays,
Applauding nations sound thy praise;
And bind thy brows with deathless bays!

Happy we hail the youthful band
Of sisters that beside us stand-

Thrice happy-that an age grown wise
Now bids them boldly dare and do

Like these; nor fear that such emprise
Should prove them less the woman true.

And thanks and honor be to him,
Whom tripling decades rolling round,
Still at his chosen work have found;
With heart unchanged, and eye not dim,

Nobly his task he hath fulfilled.

Long may he live, each day beholding
Fair fruits, and fairer still unfolding,

In the wide garden he hath tilled!

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The above papers were selected from a larger number in both prose and verse that were contributed for the occasion, as being more suitable than the others to be read in public. When the reading of them was concluded,

Rev. Dr. Sears, President of Brown University, delivered an address, in which earnest views of Female Education were happily blended with humorous allusions to the scene before him. Of this address we have obtained, the following brief report:

I take pleasure, sir, in uniting with you and others in doing honor to the founder and successful teacher of this school. What its character, from the beginning, has been, we have already been told. It is fitting that the University, for whose interests he has labored with an assiduity almost equal to that with which he has watched over his own school, during so long a period, should pay him this tribute of respect.

To this large company of ladies, who were once his pupils, it may seem strange that he, who was, as they will remember, so cautious in respect to their receiving calls from this quarter, should, all of a sudden, so entirely change his policy as to invite them to meet in the College Chapel. But, on such a day as this, when mothers and daughters come together for the last time to greet their common teacher, the heart even of the inflexible teacher, softens instinctively, and relaxes a little from the rigor of school discipline. And just here I have a secret to tell you. It is vacation in college. Need I tell you that Mr. Kingsbury probably knows that fact?

Ladies, I can lay my hand on my heart, and say most sincerely, I am happy to see you here; for when your sons, brothers, cousins, or nephews are about sixteen years old, and have completed their preparatory studies, I expect you will remember this day, and will think of Mr. Kingsbury, as a well known and good counsellor, and will ask his advice as to the place of their collegiate education. Mr. Kingsbury is a candid, wise and good man; and you are in no danger of thinking lightly of his advice.

I cannot say that I am disinterested as I stand before such an audience. Mr. Kingsbury is my friend; and he is your friend. There is a common bond; and I feel the influence of it. When the new Commissioner of Public Schools shall make his official visits in different parts of the State, my sympathy with him in his efforts for the advancement of popular education will very likely induce me to accompany him, especially if it be a few weeks before the first Wednesday in September. He will, of course, call on his old pupils, taking me with him as his friend, and the recollections of this day will be revived. I shall then hope through your kindness to see some of those young men already referred to, when it will become apparent how deeply interested I am in them and in their education. This is between ourselves.

But to be more serious. I cannot think of the influence of the classes of young ladies who, for thirty years, have been successively nurtured in Christian knowledge in this school, and then have gone forth to act their part in life, without pronouncing a blessing upon him, who has rendered to society so valuable a service. Constituted as society is in this Christian land, what a wide sphere of appropriate influence does it accord to woman! This is yielded to her not merely on account of her sex, but on account of the virtue, intelligence, and refinement resulting from her

education. Who can measure the extent of the social influence of one highly cultivated and refined Christian lady? What a sweetness and sanctity it gives to the domestic circle of which she is the ruling spirit and the chief ornament! In the community where she resides, how much evil is prevented; and how many generous and noble sympathies are awakened by her very presence! Gross vice retires at her approach. Ignorance is abashed. Low and vulgar ornaments are spontaneously laid aside. Innocence, purity, and elevated sentiment lend their charm to social intercourse; and by degrees the manners and morals of a whole neighborhood are transformed by the gentle influence of one such person. What then must be the effect, when hundreds of such are introduced into as many little communities, or are thrown into the midst of society in our larger towns and cities!

In this country, where so little is known of factitious distinctions, women have a fairer field of useful and honorable activity opened before them than in any other in the world. In no other country is there a greater call for female education; in none is woman liable to greater vicissitudes in her condition. She is to be educated for all conditions. She may rise, if properly educated, from an humble condition to the highest positions in society: or she may, by unexpected changes of fortune, be obliged to descend from the highest circles, and mingle with the lowly. Let her, then, be educated for every possible condition in this wide range of chances. In her lot, she is somewhat dependent. To no small extent, her success will depend on the success of another. Let her be trained to follow with Christian dignity and simplicity the guiding hand of Providence wherever it may lead.

How shall the public morals, which are now so low, be improved but by introducing a purer atmosphere into social life? And who has the power of doing this so effectually as she who, if true to herself, so naturally presides in the social circle! Let the time never come when American mothers shall cease to be qualified, and, in some sense, inspired to train their sons to sentiments of true honor, patriotism, virtue, and religion. History teaches no fact more uniform, than that "every great man is his mother's son."

At the close of these remarks of President Sears, the exercises at the Chapel were concluded by singing the following Ode, written for the occasion, by Hon. WILLIAM M. RODMAN, Mayor of Providence.

Memory wreathes each heart this day,

While old and young combine

To chant a grateful roundelay,

To golden days, lang syne.

To auld lang syne, this day,

We garlands twine;

And sing a joyous roundelay

To auld lang syne.

No. 13. [VOL. V., No. 1.]— 3